craftgrrl | There wasn't really anything like this anywhere in the memories

So, if I want to dress up as a knight for Halloween (yay for cross-dressing), what are good ways to go about crafting some armour? I'm asking this now because I am actually crazy enough to consider making my own faux chain mail out of jewelry jump rings, which just might take all summer. However, I'm wondering if there are any shortcuts to sitting there putting a billion little rings together? If I were to buy bulk jewelry chains (the kind with the most circular, open rings obviously) and then attach a few (ok, probably more like 200) of those together, would that work? Or is there some other clever thing that I could do? I really want this costume to be impressive, as I'd like to wear it to the Halloween party at the law school I'm attending, and I really don't want to look like a dork in a fluffy wool knit that's painted silver.... I'd rather look like a dork in real mail. ;)

I may totally give up on this idea very shortly, or just succumb and buy a costume when it gets closer, but I'm curious to hear people's suggestions...